Match report: Tigers blow it again in thrillerafl.com.au
20 May 2017BATTLE-WORN Greater Western Sydney has staged a stunning comeback to condemn Richmond to another nightmare loss, scoring a goal with just over a minute to go to secure a three-point win at Spotless Stadium on Saturday night.
Jeremy Cameron’s shot was the icing on a final-quarter run of 33 points to five, which few expected the injury-depleted Giants were capable of staging.
Just moments earlier the Tigers thought they had sealed it after debutant Shai Bolton snapped a goal, but the score review showed it was clearly touched and the Giants were able to reset.
Richmond led for all but the final fateful moments, by 31 points at quarter-time, 21 at the main break and 25 at three-quarter time. The Giants had come as close as 15 points during the second term, but looked done and dusted until their courageous final assault.
"It’s tough. It’s heartbreaking, to be honest," Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said.
"I thought our players gave great intent, great effort. We just couldn’t close out the game.
"To have 61 inside 50s, win contested ball, win forward-half turnovers, win the pressure ... just didn’t get the result.
"If you had have looked at it on face value, with our KPI indicators, we probably should have won.
"But the fact of the matter is, we let ourselves down badly with that last play and that’s all you get remembered for, unfortunately."
Cameron kicked three goals for GWS, while Josh Kelly (32 touches) headed a gutsy midfield effort alongside Lachie Whitfield (30), Dylan Shiel (28) and Tom Scully (24).
Richmond ushered in several new faces after a winless month, but it was their dependable campaigners who spearheaded their performance.
Top-possession gatherers Dustin Martin, Shaun Grigg and captain Trent Cotchin led by example in exposing the Giants, whose momentum seemed sapped. The Tigers streaked ahead from the get-go, but would later regret their inability to bury their hosts.
The signs were dire for the Giants early on. After the Tigers nailed two goals inside the first 100 seconds, the sluggish GWS defence left the door open for the visitors, who accepted the invitation with a further four goals to one.
The Tigers spread the Giants at will, entered inside 50 with ease and outworked their opponents across the ground. Combined with Toby Nankervis troubling Shane Mumford in the ruck, and with the Tigers’ backmen impeccably organised by the classy Alex Rance, it was hard to see a way back for GWS, even at that early stage.
A couple of early second-quarter goals masked continuing problems. However, as the term progressed the Giants increasingly found open spaces and were helped by the Tigers’ errant accuracy in front of goal. While short of a comeback, the Giants stopped the deluge in the second quarter, scoring three goals to one to reduce a 31-point first period gap to 21 points at the main break.
The scent of revival grew stronger early in the third term with some impressive passages of play by GWS. But stamina became Richmond’s strength, as it turned the tide of uncontested possession, seeing it to a three-goal-to-two term and a 25-point lead.
Richmond had chances early in the fourth quarter to close out the match but sprayed three shots wide, allowing the Giants an opportunity to conjure a big last push.
"We didn't play well. That's the first thing," Giants coach Leon Cameron said.
"Secondly, Richmond should have won the game. They were better than us throughout the game and they're playing some great footy.
"It's a ruthless game. We sit here and celebrate a three-point win, and we were in front for a minute out of 120.
"It's a ruthless game. Richmond were the better side on the night."
MEDICAL ROOMGreater Western Sydney: Rory Lobb has a groin problem. He left the ground in the third term and did not return.
Richmond: The Tigers seemed to escape without any injury concerns.
NEXT UPThe Giants head west to take on the Eagles next Sunday afternoon. West Coast is the only team GWS hasn't beaten since entering the competition. Richmond begin a string of four matches in Melbourne with the Dreamtime at the 'G clash against Essendon on Saturday night.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.2 4.5 6.9 11.12 (78)
RICHMOND 6.3 7.8 10.10 10.15 (75)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 3, Reid 2, Scully, Lobb, Williams, Greene, Taranto, de Boer
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Menadue 2, Cotchin 2, Castagna 2, Grigg, Lloyd
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly, Shiel, Wilson, Whitfield, Scully, Davis
Richmond: Rance, Martin, Grigg, Nankervis, Cotchin, Houli
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Rory Lobb (groin)
Richmond: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Schmitt, Findlay
Official crowd: 10,677 at Spotless Stadium
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-20/match-report-tigers-blow-it-again-in-thriller
